Combat Learning
Teaching Martial Arts by Combat Learning
Five Views of the Fundamentals of Martial Arts
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Five Views of the Fundamentals of Martial Arts

An audio essay version of the article from the combat learning Substack.
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Everyone agrees that the fundamentals are the essence of martial arts skill, but nobody can agree on what they are exactly.

In this article, I outline and briefly comment on five different conceptions of martial arts fundamentals.

  • Fundamentals as Basic Techniques

  • Fundamentals as Principles of Play

  • Fundamentals as Basics + Principles

  • Fundamentals within Functional Movement Skills

    • as Regulatory Conditions

    • as Necessary Strategic Attributes

Overall, I want to document the landscape on fundamentals so we can have clearer, more productive discussions about it.

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This episode was produced by Micah Peacock, including the intro and outro music.

Discussion about this podcast

Combat Learning
Teaching Martial Arts by Combat Learning
Teach martial arts radically better using the ecological dynamics and constraints-led approach to training. Explore the little-known frontiers of skill adaptation, perceptual-motor learning, and performance science for combat sports such as jiu jitsu, taekwondo, kickboxing, karate, muay thai, and more.